Storage bag

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a storage bag including a bag body including two opposing sidewalls, the sidewalls including peripheral edges and the sidewalls being attached together along at least a portion of the peripheral edges. Each of the sidewalls include an outer surface and an inner surface, where the inner surfaces define opposing inner faces, and at least one of the inner faces includes a pressure sensitive composite material. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a process for forming a storage bag material is provided including the steps of: providing a sheet of base film; providing a pressure sensitive composite material having an adhesive on one side thereof; moving the sheet of base film and the pressure sensitive composite material into overlaying engagement; and attaching the pressure sensitive composite material to the sheet of base film.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/880,106, filed Jun. 29, 2004.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to storage bags suitable for use in the containment and protection of various items, such as food items. The present invention further relates to a process for forming a material suitable for constructing a storage bag of the present invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of storage bags for containing items to be stored, such as food items, is generally known in the art. Such storage bags include freezer bags provided in various sizes for containing food items, such as meats, in a sealed manner in a freezer environment. It is desirable for such bags to have a reclosable or reusable closure effective to provide an airtight seal. Further, in use of such storage bags, it is desirable to eliminate any air contained within the storage bag and seal opposing sides of the bag to prevent reentry of air in order to minimize contact of the bag contents with air and reduce the possibility of freezer burn, such as may occur as a result of dehydration of a food item stored in a low humidity, freezer environment.

Examples of known storage bags include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,403,094; 5,804,265; 5,965,224; 6,156,363; 6,371,643 and 6,550,966.

There continues to be need for a storage bag suitable for use in containing stored items in a freezer environment, and in which an item may be sealably retained in the bag and air contact with the stored item may be minimized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a storage bag is provided including a bag body comprising at least two opposing sidewalls including peripheral edges and the sidewalls being attached together along at least a portion of the peripheral edges. Each of the sidewalls include an outer layer and an inner layer with the inner layers defining opposing inner faces. At least one of the inner faces comprising a pressure sensitive composite material for bonding the opposing inner faces to each other.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a storage bag is provided including a bag body comprising at least two opposing sidewalls including peripheral edges and the sidewalls being attached together along at least a portion of the peripheral edges. Each of the sidewalls comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surfaces of the sidewalls being located in opposing facing relation to each other. At least one of the inner surfaces comprising a pressure sensitive composite material for bonding the at least two opposing sidewalls to each other.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a process for forming a storage bag material comprises the steps of: providing a sheet of base film; providing a pressure sensitive composite material having an adhesive on one side thereof; moving the sheet of base film and the pressure sensitive composite material into overlaying engagement; and, attaching the pressure sensitive material to the sheet of base film.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a reclosable storage bag in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevational view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a section taken at line 3-3 in FIG. 2, illustrating an inner layer of the storage bag of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational section view of the inner layer illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the storage bag of FIG. 1 containing an item sealed within the storage bag;

FIG. 6 is cross-sectional elevational view of an alternative configuration of the storage bag of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the storage bag of FIG. 6 containing an item sealed within the storage bag;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the reclosable storage bag in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional elevational view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of a further embodiment of the reclosable storage bag in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional elevational view taken along line 11-11 in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a process for forming a storage bag material for the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a reclosable storage bag 10 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is shown. The storage bag 10 generally includes two opposing sidewalls 12, 14 that are attached together along a portion of a periphery of the sidewalls 12, 14, such as along longitudinal edge seams 16, 18 and along a laterally extending bottom edge 20. In the illustrated storage bag 10, the longitudinal edge seams 16, 18 may be formed by sonic welding, heat sealing, an adhesive or other conventional attachment means along the edges of the material forming the sidewalls 12, 14, and the bottom edge 20 may be defined by a fold in the material forming the sidewalls 12, 14. Further, the bottom edge 20 may also include an edge seam formed in a manner similar to that of the longitudinal edge seams 16, 18.

An upper end of the bag 10 includes an open mouth 22 for insertion of articles into the interior of the bag 10. A reusable closure 24 comprising complementary mating elements 26, 28 is located on the interior of the sidewalls 12, 14 at the mouth 22 for reclosably sealing the mouth 22 of the bag 10. For example, the reusable closure may comprise an interlocking seal type closure, and which may or may not include a slider for manipulating opening and closing of the bag 10. The present invention is not limited to the illustrated reusable closure, and examples of reusable closures that may be employed, and information on their manufacture, is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,186,786; 4,285,105; 4,363,345; 4,561,109; 5,804,265 and 5,851,070. Other closures may also be provided within the scope of the described invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, each of the sidewalls 12, 14 forming the bag 10 comprise plural layers, including a first layer 30 and a second layer 32 for the sidewall 12 and a first layer 34 and a second layer 36 for the sidewall 14. The first layers 30, 34 define an outer film surface for the bag 10, and the second layers 32, 36 define an inner, article engaging film for the bag 10. The second or inner layers 32, 36 comprise a composite material having a characteristic that enables inner facing surfaces 38, 40 of the inner layers 32, 36 to adhere to each other. Alternatively, one of the second layers 32, 36 may be omitted so that the remaining second layer will adhere to the opposing non-adherent inside surface of the first layer. By way of example, the inner layers 32, 36 are formed of a pressure sensitive composite material 41 (FIG. 3) exhibiting a characteristic of releasably adhering to an adjacent contacting material surface upon application of a pressure, while not adhering to the adjacent contacting surface in the absence of application of the pressure.

Such composite materials are known in the art and include films formed with a plurality of protrusions 42 and valleys 44 (FIG. 4), such as may be formed by an embossing operation, where the valleys 44 on an adhesive side of the film are at least partially filled with a pressure sensitive adhesive 46. The adhesive 46 is held out of engagement with an adjacent surface by the protrusions 42 until a sufficient pressure is applied to the side of the film opposite the adhesive side causing at least some of the protrusions 42 to collapse and allow contact of the adhesive with the adjacent surface, resulting in adhesion between the composite material and the adjacent surface.

As described, the currently preferred embodiment of the composite material can utilize either raised protrusions, or raised land areas surrounding dimples, to prevent premature sticking of the adhesive to an adjacent surface. However, other forms of composite materials that include a non-adhesive material to control the tack of the adhesive and prevent the adhesive from attachment to an adjacent surface prior to the application of pressure may also be used in accordance with the present invention. Exemplary materials include, without limitation, release liners such as silicone coated paper or coatings, inks, varnish, particles (talc, calcium carbonate, starch, wax beads and the like), nonwovens, scrim and fibers which are mixed with or coated upon the adhesive. The adhesive and/or non-adhesive coatings can either be continuous or non-continuous (discrete). Solid, pressure activated adhesives can also be used including, without limitation, microencapsulated adhesives that are coated continuously or in discrete patterns onto a film. In the case of microencapsulated adhesives and the like, pressure is applied to rupture the surface of the microcapsules to bring the adhesive into contact with an adjacent surface. Additional details and further examples of such composite materials, and information on their manufacture, may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,662,758; 6,489,022; 5,871,607; 6,194,062; 5,965,235; 6,193,918; 6,602,454; U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0218274 A1 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/345,540, entitled Selectively Activatable Storage Wrap Sheet Having Discrete Land Areas, filed on Jan. 16, 2003 and assigned to the assignee of the present application. However, as would be known to one of skill in the art, other forms of composite materials having an adhesive disposed thereon could be used in accordance with the present invention including any material having an adhesive disposed continuously or discontinuously thereon.

The complementary elements 26, 28 of the reusable closure 24 are located on opposing inner faces of the outer layers 30, 34 of the sidewalls 12, 14, and the composite material 41 of the inner layers 32, 36 defines upper edges 48, 50 which are illustrated located in spaced relation from the reusable closure elements 26, 28. The outer layers 30, 34 additionally include opposing longitudinal edges which are defined by the longitudinal seam edges 16, 18, and the inner layers 32, 36 include longitudinal edges located at 49, 51 and located within a seam area defined by the longitudinal seam edges 16, 18.

During a use of the storage bag 10, the sidewalls 12, 14 are pressed together in areas surrounding the contents of the storage bag 10 (see FIG. 5) to thereby expel air from the storage bag 10 and bring the inner facing surfaces 38, 40 of the inner layers 32, 36 into engagement with each other. When sufficient pressure is applied by pressing the sidewalls 12, 14 together, this pressure can cause the adhesive on each facing surface 38, 40 to move into engagement with and adhere to the opposing facing surface 40, 38, thereby retaining the inner layers 32, 36 in engagement with each other and preventing air from reentering the adhered areas.

In one embodiment, the outer layers 30, 34 may comprise films formed of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) having a thickness in the range of approximately 0.1-10.0 mils (0.0254-0.254 mm), and preferably in the range of approximately 1.5-2.0 mils (0.0381-0.0508 mm). The inner layers 32, 36 may comprise films of high density polyethylene (HDPE) having an unembossed thickness in the range of approximately 0.25 to 2.0 mils (0.00635-0.0508 mm) and an embossed caliper of approximately 4.0 mils (0.1016 mm). Thus, the LDPE material of the outer layers 30, 34 provides an outer storage bag surface visually similar to known commercially available storage bags. However, it should be noted that other materials and film thicknesses can be used for either of the layers of the sidewalls 12, 14.

Examples of materials that may be used for the outer layers 30, 34 include, without limitation, thermoplastic materials or a blend of thermoplastic materials. The films may be made by a conventional cast or blown film process. Useful thermoplastics include, without limitation, polyolefins such as high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), and polypropylene (PP); thermoplastic elastomers such as styrenic block copolymers, polyolefin blends, elastomeric alloys, thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermoplastic copolyesters and thermoplastic polyamides; polymers and copolymers of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), saran polymers, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers, cellulose acetates, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), ionomer (Surlyn®), polystyrene, polycarbonates, styrene acrylonitrile, aromatic polyesters, linear polyesters, nylon, thermoplastic polyvinyl alcohols; foils and metalized films.

Examples of materials that may be used to form the composite material 41 for the inner layers 32, 36 include, without limitation, metal foils, such as aluminum foil, wax paper or grease proof paper, polymeric films, nonwoven webs, fabrics, paper and combinations thereof. Some non-limiting examples of polymeric films include, polyolefin films such as polyethylene including high density, linear low density, or low density; ethylene copolymers, such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers or ethylene methyl acrylate (EMA) copolymer, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) copolymer; polypropylenes, polyethylene-propylene copolymers; polymers and copolymers of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC); polystyrene; nylon, and other polymeric films with similar properties.

The combination of outer layers 30, 34 surrounding the inner layers 32, 36 provides a double-walled construction for the storage bag 10 in which the outer layers 30, 34 form an outer bag providing a first barrier or seal for the contents of the storage bag 10 when the reusable closure 24 is closed, and the inner layers 32, 36 provide a second barrier or seal to prevent or minimize contact of air with the contents of the storage bag 10 when the inner layers 32, 36 are pressed together.

The inner layers 32, 36 of the storage bag 10 are attached to the adjacent outer layers 30, 34 across substantially the entire surface area of the inner layers 32, 36, such as may be provided by combining the composite material 41 with the film material forming the outer layers 30, 34 during extrusion and formation of the film material for the outer layers 30, 34, as is described further below. Alternatively the inner layers 32, 36 and outer layers 30, 34 may be adhered to each other by an adhesive, by static combining, or by other known means for joining two material layers.

Referring to FIG. 6, an alternative configuration for the storage bag 10 is illustrated, identified by reference numeral 10′, and in which elements corresponding to the previous configuration are identified with the same reference numerals primed. As with the previous configuration of storage bag 10, the storage bag 10′ comprises two opposing sidewalls 12′, 14′, each sidewall 12′, 14′ comprising plural layers, including a first layer 30′ and a second layer 32′ for the sidewall 12′ and a first layer 34′ and second layer 36′ for the opposing sidewall 14′.

The inner layers 32′, 36′ are connected to each other and to the outer layers 30′, 34′ along the longitudinal seams 16′, 18′ (FIG. 7), and are alternatively further joined at an edge seam along bottom edge 20′ formed in a manner similar to the that of the longitudinal seams 16′, 18′. Further, lateral seams are provided at the upper edges 48′, 50′ between the inner layers 32′, 36′ and the outer layers 30′, 34′.

The inner layers 32′, 36′ may comprise a composite material where the inner faces 38′, 40′ of the inner layers 32′, 36′ may include a pressure sensitive composite material 41 of the same type described for the previous configuration of storage bag 10.

As seen in FIG. 6, the inner layers 32′, 36′ are substantially unattached to the outer layers 30′, 34′ in the area between the longitudinal seams 16′, 18′ and between the upper edges 48′, 50′ and the bottom edge 20′. Thus, the inner layers 32′, 36′ may move independently of the outer layers 30′, 34′ for draping and closely conforming to the contents of the storage bag 10′ to thereby facilitate elimination of air contact with the contents. Accordingly, the described storage bag 10′ provides a combined function of protection and ease of use of a storage bag with the conformability provided by the pressure sensitive composite material 41.

The storage bag 10′ may be used in a manner similar to that described for the storage bag 10, where a user may apply pressure to the sidewalls 12′, 14′ of the bag 10′ to cause the inner faces 38′, 40′ of the inner layers 32′, 36′ to adhere to each other and thereby eliminate or minimize air contact with the contents of the bag 10′, as is illustrated in FIG. 7. The material of the inner layers 32, 36 provides drape or conformability characteristics which permit the inner layers 32, 36 to act as a wrap which closely conforms to the contours of the storage bag contents to minimize air contact with the contents.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, an alternative embodiment for a storage bag 52 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is shown. The storage bag 52 includes two opposing sidewalls 54, 56 that are attached together along a portion of a periphery of the sidewalls 54, 56, such as along longitudinal edge seams 58, 60 and along a laterally extending bottom edge 62. The longitudinal edge seams 58, 60 may be formed by sonic welding, heat sealing, an adhesive or other conventional attachment means along the edges of the material forming the sidewalls 54, 56, and the bottom edge 62 may be defined by a fold in the material forming the sidewalls 54, 56. Further, the bottom edge 62 may alternatively include an edge seam formed in a manner similar to that of the longitudinal edge seams 58, 60.

An upper end of the storage bag 52 includes an open mouth 64 for insertion of articles into the interior of the storage bag 52. A reusable closure 66 comprising complementary interlocking mating elements 68, 70 is located on the sidewalls 54, 56 at the mouth 64 for reclosably sealing the mouth 64 of the storage bag 52. In the illustrated example, the reusable closure 66 comprises a slider 72 for manipulating the complementary interlocking mating elements 68, 70 into closed and open positions. However, it should be understood that an interlocking seal type closure, such as is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, or any other reclosable closure, for example as described in the above-referenced patents relating to closure devices, may be provided.

As shown in FIG. 9, the sidewalls 54, 56 each comprise a film layer formed of a composite material having a characteristic that enables inner facing surfaces 74, 76 of the respective sidewalls 54, 56 to releasably adhere to each other. By way of example, the sidewalls 54, 56 are formed of a pressure sensitive composite material exhibiting the characteristic of releasably adhering to an adjacent contacting material surface upon application of pressure, while not adhering to the adjacent contacting surface in the absence of application of the pressure, such as a composite material constructed in accordance with the above-referenced teachings relating to the composite material 41, described for the inner layers of the storage bags 10, 10′.

Alternatively, one of the sidewalls 54, 56 may be formed of a pressure sensitive composite material, such as a composite material constructed in accordance the above-referenced teachings relating to composite material 41, and the opposing sidewall 54, 56 may be formed of a non-adherent surface, such as a smooth material surface, where the one sidewall 54, 56 will adhere to the opposing non-adhesive surface to form a conforming seal around the contents of the storage bag 52. Accordingly, the described storage bag 52 provides drape and conformability characteristics around the contents of the storage bag 52 to substantially isolate the contents from air, while also providing the ease of use of a storage bag construction including a reusable closure 66 to seal the storage bag mouth 64.

It should be noted that the material forming the sidewalls 54, 56 of the storage bag 52 comprises an HDPE film, although other film materials providing the same composite material characteristics as those associated with the pressure sensitive composite material 41 may also be used. For example, the materials described above for the composite material of the inner layers 32, 36 may be provided for the sidewalls 54, 56.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, an alternative embodiment for a storage bag 78 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is shown. The storage bag 78 includes two opposing sidewalls 80, 82 that are attached together along a portion of a periphery of the sidewalls 80, 82, such as along longitudinal edge seams 84, 86 and along a laterally extending bottom edge 88. The longitudinal edge seams 84, 86 may be formed by sonic welding, heat sealing, an adhesive or other conventional attachment means along the edges of the material forming the sidewalls 80, 82, and the bottom edge 88 may be defined by a fold in the material forming the sidewalls 80, 82. Further, the bottom edge 88 may alternatively include an edge seam formed in a manner similar to that of the longitudinal edge seams 84, 86.

An upper end of the storage bag 78 includes an open mouth 90 for insertion of articles into the interior of the storage bag 78. A reusable closure 92 comprising complementary mating elements 94, 96 is attached to the sidewalls 80, 82 at the mouth 90 for reclosably sealing the mouth 90 of the storage bag 78. In the illustrated example, the reusable closure 92 comprises an interlocking seal type closure. However, it should be understood that a slider zipper seal type closure, such as is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, or any other reusable closure, for example as described in the above-referenced patents relating to closure devices, may be provided.

The storage bag 78 includes a strip-like secondary seal 98 located in spaced relation to the reusable closure 92. The secondary seal 98 comprises respective secondary seal elements 100, 102 positioned on inner facing surfaces 104, 106 of the sidewalls 80, 82, located just below the complementary elements 94, 96. The illustrated secondary seal elements 100,102 comprise a composite material having a characteristic that enables inner faces 108, 110 of the secondary seal elements 100, 102 to releasably adhere to each other. For example, a composite material having the characteristic of adhering to an adjacent contacting material surface upon application of a pressure, while not adhering to the adjacent contacting surface in the absence of application of pressure, may be provided for the secondary sealing elements 100, 102, such as a composite material constructed in accordance with the above-referenced teachings relating to the composite material 41. Of course, only one of the secondary seal elements 100, 102 could also be used to form the secondary seal 98. Further, secondary seal elements 100,102 can be provided individually as continuous and/or discontinuous elements and in combination provide a continuous or discontinuous secondary seal 98 as could be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The sidewalls 80, 82 of the storage bag 78 may be formed of a LDPE film, or any of the films described herein, with reference to the outer walls 30, 34 of the storage bag 10. The secondary seal elements 100, 102 may be formed of a HDPE film or any of the films describe with reference to the composite material 41 forming the inner walls 32, 36 of the storage bag 10.

The secondary seal 98 preferably provides a visually recognizable seal separate and distinct from the reusable closure 92. Alternatively, the secondary seal 98 may be provided within the same area as the reusable closure 92.

The storage bag 78 provides a double-seal against entry of air to the interior of the storage bag 78, as well as provides a double-seal against odors entering or leaving the storage bag 78. The reusable closure 92 and the secondary seal element 98 of the double-seal construction further provides an additional closure element to secure the contents of the storage bag 78 should one of the seals inadvertently open.

In an alternative configuration of the storage bag 78, only the composite material of the secondary seal 98 may be provided at the mouth 90 of the storage bag 78 to provide a single resealable closure element for the storage bag 78.

In other alternative configurations of the storage bag 78, the composite material secondary seal 98 may be located above the reusable closure 92; a pair of composite material secondary seals 98 may be provided, one on either side of the reusable closure 92; or a pair of composite material secondary seals 98 may be provided as first and second seals for the storage bag 78 without the reusable closure 92.

In a further alternative configuration of the storage bag 78, the secondary seal 98 may be formed of a reusable closure similar to the reusable closure 92. For example, the storage bag 78 may be formed with a slider zipper seal closure for the reusable closure 92, and the secondary seal 98 may comprise an interlocking seal closure. Alternatively, both the closure elements 92 and 98 may comprise an interlocking seal closure.

The above-described embodiments provide a bag structure for eliminating or minimizing air contact with the contents of a storage bag, which is particularly advantageous for storage bags used for freezing food articles such as meats. In addition to the above-described composite material incorporated in a bag structure, at least one of the bag walls may be provided with a passage, such as a valve passage (not shown), for permitting suction to be applied to evacuate air from the interior of the storage bag. The valve passage can be located anywhere in the bag below, or as a part of, the interlocking closure but is preferably near the top of the bag. The film that is opposite to the valve and located in proximity to the valve passage preferentially contains no adhesive and is textured such that the film opposite to the valve does not block off the opening to the valve passage or significantly restrict the air flow through the valve passage. The valve passage may be any opening in the bag that permits the passage of air through the wall of the bag. The valve is preferably a one-way valve such that air cannot return into the bag. However, one of skill in the art would be able to select a particular valve or valve structure that provides the function desired in the final product.

In addition to withdrawing air through a valve passage, air can also be withdrawn through the primary bag opening prior to the interlocking strips being closed. One method for doing this is a suction nozzle that is placed into the partially closed bag whereby the bag is held tightly around the nozzle, for example through the assistance of clamps. Another method for withdrawing air through the primary opening of the bag is through the use of a vacuum sealing food storage device that utilizes a small vacuum chamber (e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,310). In both cases, it is desirable to use a bag of the current invention that is textured on the inside surface of the bag but without adhesive at the top of the bag thereby allowing good air flow. The applied suction forces the two sides of the bags into intimate contact which are held together by the adhesive on the remaining portion of the bag. The two sides of the bag are held together thereby allowing excellent air evacuation from the bag and restricting air from reentering the bag. Also, other materials may be incorporated in one or more of the above-described embodiments, such as films formed of other polymer materials than those specifically mentioned herein, including the so-called cling-wrap materials, to facilitate closure of a storage bag from entry of air.

Referring to FIG. 12, a process for forming a storage bag material for the present invention is illustrated diagrammatically and includes an extruder 112 followed by a die 114 for forming a base material comprising a film layer 116, such as a LDPE layer of the film material in a molten, or softened, state, prior to a chilling step. The fluid film layer 116 is fed to a nip between a chill roll 118 and a nip roll 120 located at a water bath 122. A layer of composite material, such as the embossed composite material 41, is fed from a material supply 124 into the nip between the chill roll 118 and the nip roll 120 with the adhesive side of the composite material 41 facing away from the fluid film 116. The fluid film 116 bonds to the composite material 41 as the two layers of material 116, 41 pass through the nip of the chill roll 118 and the nip roll 120 in order to form a double-layer sheet of material 126 which may be used to construct storage bags having a composite material inner layer. Attachment of the layer of composite material to the base material may be done by techniques known by those skilled in the art including thermal lamination, adhesive lamination, mechanical fastening such as embossing and the like. It is also contemplated that the base layer can be formed as a composite material with bags then being formed from the resulting composite material.

Another alternative embodiment of the storage bag of the present application may comprise a multibag having at least an inner liner bag and an outer support bag, the inner liner bag forming or having a composite material on at least one inner surface of the bag. The composite material can be formed with or without a pressure sensitive adhesive disposed thereon. If a pressure sensitive adhesive is used, a composite material useful for an alternative embodiment can be formed as discussed in the embodiments described supra. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,804,265 for additional information regarding suitable multibag structures appropriate for construction of such an embodiment. Yet another alternate embodiment of the storage bag of the present application comprises a multi-layered bag having at least one liner film and an outer support bag. The liner film(s) has a first sidewall and a second sidewall at least one of which forms or having a composite material thereon. A first end of the liner film is the only portion that is attached to an inner surface of the outer support bag with the second end of the film liner being free of the outer bag. The length of the inner liner can be varied so that the second end ranges from approximately as long as the outer support bag is deep or so that the film is two or more times the depth of the outer support bag. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,643 for additional information regarding a storage bag structure with at least one inner film appropriate for construction of this embodiment.

It is contemplated that storage bags made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention can include any number of layers and that any number of layers can be used in any of the films used to make the bags by using processes known in the art including, without limitation, co-extrusion and lamination. For example, nylon or ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer layers can be used to improve the flavor, aroma, and oxygen barrier properties of the bags. Further, one of skill in the art will realize that individual layers, or the components comprising an individual layer, utilized for the bag of the present invention can be selected to provide a specific functional or aesthetic requirement. In an exemplary, but non-limiting example, a UV-resistant layer can be provided within the structure of a layer comprising the bag of the present invention to prevent the photo-degradation of a product positioned within the bag.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm.”

All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention. 

1. A storage bag comprising: a bag body comprising at least two opposing sidewalls, said sidewalls including peripheral edges and a common bottom edge, and said sidewalls attached together along at least a portion of said peripheral edges; at least one said sidewall comprising an outer layer and an inner layer; and said inner layer comprising an upper edge and an inner face, said inner layer attached to said outer layer along the bottom edge, the peripheral edges and the upper edge, said inner layer substantially unattached to said outer layer between said upper edge and said bottom edge, and between said peripheral edges, said inner face comprising protrusions and valleys adjacent said protrusions with an adhesive at least partly filling said valleys, at least one sidewall comprising a valve passage.
 2. The storage bag of claim 1 wherein the valve passage comprises a one way valve.
 3. The storage bag of claim 1 wherein said bag body includes an opening and a closure element comprising cooperating complementary elements located at said opening.
 4. The storage bag of claim 3 wherein said valve passage is disposed below said closure element.
 5. The storage bag of claim 1, wherein the sidewall opposite the valve passage is adhesive free.
 6. The storage bag of claim 5, wherein the sidewall opposite the valve passage is textured. 